A/N: Hello again my lovely lovely readers! So… HOLY CRAP I was not expecting the huge influx of followers after only one chapter o.o Now I'm a little intimidated. Especially cause chapter 2 is the shortest chapter in the story T_T

I'm sorry, cause the timeline jumps around just a tad to show what happened with certain characters 'off screen' from the last chapter, and I'm terribly mean to tiny Luffy :X

Things will be picking up a little more after this chapter, but I had to cut it off where I did to set up the next three chapters, so hopefully it doesn't disappoint. Oh, I also went with "Colubo" for the mountain. I know it's also "Corvo", but I was going off the manga panel showing the bandits with the "Colubo Apple".

Dedicated to the wonderful Beyond Kailani. Without my adorable beta-reader, these chapters would suck a lot more, and like… most of them wouldn't even be written yet.

It's thanks to all you wonderful people showing your support that I should be able to update every Friday from now on!

Tenryuubito = Celestial Dragon (I prefer to use the Japanese for it because Celestial Dragon sounds too pretty in my mind and I despise them.)

Bonds of Sea and Fire

Chapter 2: A Letter From a Brother

He'd thought he had been in pain before.

It didn't even compare to how he was feeling now, carelessly slung over the pirate's back. The jagged metal wire wrapped around his throat dug in and left fresh cuts along his neck and fingers if he tried to pull at it too much. He'd learned very quickly that if he remained as still as possible, gripping the wire in both hands, he could still breathe.

The one time Luffy had tried to struggle, it had cut in so fiercely he'd started to choke and panic. Bluejam had slammed him into the ground and made sure to loosen the restraint just enough to let him breathe, though he'd hit him a few times during the process to get the point across.

"A dead hostage doesn't get me much, so do me a favor and stay alive for now."

Those words had been chilling enough, but it had been the crazed look on Bluejam's face that had really stuck with Luffy. Like the night of the fire, something was wrong with him, and Luffy had no idea how to react to it. Ace wasn't there to tell him what to do, a thought that crippled him just as harshly as the wire around his throat.

The path down the mountain was oddly quiet, the smell of smoke fading away the closer they got to Windmill Village. It still clung to their clothes and hair, but the smell no longer permeated the entire area, allowing Luffy to get a breath of somewhat fresh air for the first time in a while.

He coughed again, wincing when that made the wire cut into his neck again. Still, it was as if the fresh air gave him a sense of clarity, or at least a sense of false bravado. "Y-you bastard," he managed to rasp out, hating how weak and small his voice sounded. He was stronger than this - he had to be stronger than this. "Let me… go!"

Bluejam jerked on the wire, causing him to shout in pain, feet kicking and hitting nothing. Even if his feet did connect with Bluejam's back, it didn't seem like the older pirate even felt it. On the ground below him, a large bag of treasure was being dragged in Bluejam's other hand. The sight of the treasure filled Luffy with renewed anger. That was Ace and Sabo's treasure. Bluejam had no right taking it, even if Ace had given up the location. Besides, Bluejam hadn't let them go even after Ace had told, so why did he get to have the treasure too?

That thought sent another shiver of fear racing along Luffy's rubbery spine. Bluejam was still alive, was still a threat, and didn't appear to have been badly wounded other than his burns, either. Ace never would have run away… so where was Ace? What had Bluejam done to him?

He wanted to demand answers, but at the same time, something held him back. Even injured and weak, he could still try to fight back from time to time. If Bluejam told him that Ace and Dadan were dead… he wasn't sure he'd be able to muster up enough strength for a single insult, let alone fight his way free. He couldn't afford to give up.

The village was quiet when they arrived, but it was after all, a ridiculous hour for anyone to be awake. Not even the fishermen were up and about, readying their boats. Businesses were closed, and even the mayor, who Luffy was used to seeing awake at any hour he encountered him, didn't seem to be up and about.

The wire jerked again, making Luffy cry out involuntarily. Bluejam had set his treasure down, grabbing his gun instead as he made his way to the road, looking around. There were a few fishing boats docked at the harbor, and he smirked. Before Luffy had even finished catching his breath, Bluejam was shouting, demanding food, supplies, medicine - and it wasn't until Luffy heard Bluejam threaten to 'kill this kid' that he realized he really was being used as a hostage.

Dread seized him instantly, his head snapping up as he pulled at the wire around his throat again. At first, no one seemed to be responding in the following silence, but soon enough, doors were opening and people were peeking out. Shortly after they saw what was happening, the villagers began to cry out in shock or dismay, and he heard his name being whispered in hushed tones of panic.

Bluejam smirked cruelly.

"So they know you, huh?" he chuckled. "Good."

Before Luffy could retort, angrily thrashing again at the anger and indignation that people were going to be bullied for caring about him, Makino's voice cut through the hushed whispers and wordless sounds of panic already rising up in the village.

"LUFFY!"

Bluejam turned to face her as she stumbled into view, still wearing her sleeping clothes and staring at them both in a mix of horror and desperation.

"You know this little brat, huh?" Bluejam asked her, jerking on the wire.

Luffy shouted in pain, then flailed even harder. "Makino…!" All of the protests and warnings died in his throat as the wire slipped from his fingers and dug into his skin again, cutting in and causing the makeshift noose to start suffocating him.

"Please," Makino held both hands up to show she had no weapon and could not be considered a threat. From the way her hands shook and her eyes never left Luffy, it was clear she wouldn't have been a threat even with a weapon. "Don't hurt him! We'll give you anything you want."

"Finally a woman with some common sense," Bluejam chuckled, focusing his crazed eyes on Makino's face. He let Luffy choke and cough for a few more tense moments, before slowly lowering the wire until Luffy's feet touched the ground. He made no move to let go of it however, pointing his gun at Makino while Luffy struggled to take a breath.

Makino managed to keep calm as soon as Luffy was no longer in immediate danger. She turned to other villagers, calling out orders to them. If Bluejam wanted food and supplies, money and someone's boat, they would give it to him and let him leave the island. Despite the fact that she offered no immediate recompense, no one argued with her. No one wanted bloodshed, and even if it hadn't been Luffy the pirate had been threatening, there was no way to guarantee their safety - or at least give them their best chance - without completely caving to his demands.

When the village doctor brought the medicine, Bluejam yanked the still-recovering Luffy forward and pinned him on his stomach with one heavy boot, coiling the wire around his fist so it was pulled taut. His expression was clear - anything suspicious, even remotely, and he'd kill his hostage.

"Bastard!" Luffy shouted, wincing when he felt blood trickling into his eye again.

"Luffy, please stop struggling," Makino pleaded. "We'll give him what he wants and then take care of you."

"He already stole Ace and Sabo's treasure! He shouldn't be stealing from everyone here too!" Luffy protested. He felt the familiar sting of tears burning his eyes, but he forcibly held them back. He still could not, would not cry. "Damn it!"

Bluejam dug his foot in a little harder, and while it didn't actually hurt, it did make breathing a little more difficult, effectively cutting off what remained of Luffy's protests.

"It's okay, Luffy," Makino tried again, and the pleading tone of her voice cut through his anger. She was worried about him, scared for him, and he wasn't strong enough to make sure she didn't have to worry. "It's not as important as your life."

Luffy didn't voice his protests after that, biting down harshly on his lip in an attempt to keep his tears at bay. It would have been easier to let the emotions out - always was - and seek comfort, but he wouldn't let himself. He didn't want anyone's comfort but Ace's or Sabo's.

He lost track of how long he spent with his face in the dirt, listening to Bluejam bark orders at the village - his village - and Makino's soft words of encouragement and comfort. By the time the pressure was gone from his back, he was coughing again, miserable and completely drained of his energy.

A quick glance at the crazed pirate showed he'd been bandaged by the doctor, and given new clothes, though he kept his burned pirate jacket on over them, and hadn't bothered with new pants or boots. All of the supplies that had been gathered had been moved onto one of the fishing boats, and the entire village seemed to be gathered in worry around them, waiting.

Bluejam smirked then, yanking Luffy up to his feet with the wire and causing Makino to cry out in alarm as the force actually sent blood gushing from one of the cuts. It didn't feel too deep, but Luffy was already in so much pain, he didn't think he'd notice a new injury.

"Please, we've done everything you asked," Makino's voice was verging on desperate now. "We're in no position to try and follow or stop you…! We won't even try to report this, so please, just leave Luffy with us and go!"

Bluejam's arm shot out, several cries of panic rising up in response to the action as he caught Makino with the butt of his pistol. The sheer force cut into her cheek and sent her sprawling onto the ground, but other than bringing a hand to her cheek to try and alleviate the sting, she didn't seem to react. Her gaze still went to Bluejam as she pushed herself to her knees.

"Makino!" Luffy cried, frustration boiling over. Enraged, he turned to take a swing at Bluejam, but his feet left the ground before he could properly aim and his punch missed by a wide berth. The pain was back in his throat, the sensation of choking overriding his anger as he found himself slung over Bluejam's shoulder again.

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. No one came dashing into the village to rescue Luffy from his captor, and no matter how much Luffy struggled and cried out in choked protests, his brothers never showed up. In all his cries, he refrained from saying their names. Doing so would only reinforce how helpless he currently was, and how afraid he felt that he'd never see either of them again. He couldn't call out for them because they weren't going to miraculously appear like every time before, and if that were to happen - if he let himself think for one moment they would come save him and they didn't appear - he didn't think he'd ever stop crying. He couldn't afford to let himself start.

"Luffy!" Makino's cry of his name sounded distant, and it was a struggle all on its own for him to open his eyes and try to seek her out. The village looked so far away, so utterly unreachable from where he dangled. He couldn't even make out the features of Makino's face, though his mind filled in the blanks with what her worry might look like. The only thing he did register was the cut on her cheek from where the gun had hit her, and a fresh wave of anger and resolve rolled over him. Bluejam had separated his brothers, had threatened and stolen from people he cared about, and he'd hit Makino.

Somehow, Luffy would make sure Bluejam paid for what he had done.

"Say goodbye to this island, brat," Bluejam's voice was smug, though still a little crazed, and it made Luffy's stomach clench with uncertainty. "Cause you're never gonna see it again."

...

It was his first time out on the sea in a long time.

He'd thought his next experience would have been filled with elation and triumph - a moment of freedom and the knowledge that he was finally setting out to achieve his dream. He'd planned on being stronger than the Lord of the Coast, strong enough to get payback for what the creature had done to Shanks, and yet all he could do now was feel relieved that the sea monster was nowhere to be found.

Bluejam didn't seem ignorant to its existence like Higuma had, but even when the darkest parts of Luffy's mind told him he wanted the creature to show up and eat Bluejam the same way, he knew there would be no Shanks to save him this time. He wasn't ready to die, even if it meant Bluejam got what was coming to him, so instead he silently hoped that they'd make it into open waters before it woke up. Or maybe it wasn't even hungry.

Luffy bit down on his lip again. Bluejam had left the wire coiled around his throat, and for all his fumbling, Luffy hadn't been able to get it off. It was currently fastened to the railing of the boat, giving him a mockery of free movement while driving home how absolutely powerless he was. He was leashed, wounded, hungry and outmatched. Even if he did somehow manage to overpower Bluejam, he had no idea how to actually steer the boat. He'd be stranded at sea.

"Don't get any ideas," Bluejam's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and his reaction was instantaneous. He turned to glare up at the disgusting man, practically baring his teeth. His reaction did little more than amuse the pirate though, and it sent another wave of loathing through Luffy's tiny rubber body.

"Where are you taking me?" Luffy spat. "You took the treasure and you stole from the village. Why do you need me?!"

Bluejam cupped his chin thoughtfully, as if just realizing he did indeed take his hostage along for the ride, only for him to chuckle and grab an apple from the food he'd pilfered. "Collateral," he said, taking a bite that made Luffy's stomach clench with yearning. Not that Luffy communicated his hunger. "And when I finally have no use for a hostage, I think I'll see how much I can get for you. Devil Fruits are rare in these parts, but we're not sticking around East Blue anyway."

Luffy recoiled, dark eyes widening and betraying his hostile demeanor. For one moment, a look of pure uncertainty and fear crept into his gaze, and then he was hiding it with the most furious glare he could muster. Hadn't Higuma also said something about selling him? Would someone actually buy him because he was made of rubber? Sure, at first people were startled, poking and prodding at him, pulling his cheek until it snapped back into place… but the last time he'd been subjected to that had been when Sabo was learning about his powers and Ace was pretending to ignore them. He didn't want anyone else doing that to him. "You can't do that!" he protested.

"Who's gonna stop me?" Bluejam motioned to him with the half-eaten apple, which had Luffy briefly following the food in his hand rather than glaring at him. He returned his gaze quickly though, but not quickly enough for Bluejam to miss it. "Hungry?"

Luffy scowled, forcing himself to look away. "No!" he lied.

Bluejam laughed, openly mocking him, and Luffy absolutely hated that there was nothing he could do about it. "You and those other brats caused me a lot of trouble," he said once he'd finished laughing. "It's only fair I get my money's worth."

"My brothers are gonna come find me," Luffy snapped, turning his angry gaze back to Bluejam. "They'll be so mad! They'll yell at both of us, but they'll kick your ass!"

Bluejam studied him for a moment, tossing the core of the apple into his mouth and crunching it. "So you don't even know, huh?"

Luffy felt like he was getting a particularly harsh punch from Garp, right in the stomach. He didn't answer, but the fear in his eyes betrayed his reaction to that statement.

"Ace and that Dadan woman," Bluejam continued a smirk twisting his lips. "You don't think they actually made it, do you?"

"Sh-shut up," Luffy reached up to pull at the wire around his throat again. Even though it hadn't been tugged or jostled during that particular part of the conversation, Luffy felt like he was suffocating again. "Don't you dare say anything bad about Ace or Dadan or Sabo!"

Bluejam stood, his imposing figure towering over Luffy. They were both injured, both covered in bandages, but Bluejam's injuries had recently been treated, and Luffy's had yet to heal. Not to mention all of the new ones he'd received. If Bluejam wanted to kill him, Luffy was pretty positive he would, and there was nothing Luffy could do that would make a difference. It didn't help that his taunt about Ace and Dadan had clearly taken effect, and Luffy couldn't stop his trembling.

"No one's coming to save you," Bluejam sneered, kneeling down and getting right in Luffy's face. The younger boy immediately recoiled, flattening himself against the side of the deck. "Even if that Ace kid did survive, what makes you think a snot-nosed brat like him is gonna be able to get a boat and come after you? Your little noble 'friend' wouldn't even care. You're just a kid who got in over his head and is counting on a miracle that isn't gonna happen."

The tears were burning again, but Luffy channeled that hot anger and frustration into a surge of energy. With no other option that seemed like a good choice, Luffy suddenly jerked forward and slammed his head into Bluejam's.

The startled and pained grunt from the older man filled Luffy with a brief satisfaction, even going as far to override the splitting headache he got from the cut over his eye. His stomach rolled, vision swimming. If he'd eaten anything that morning, it probably would have come back up.

Bluejam recovered easily, nursing the offended area with one hand. Only one eye was visible, but it looked downright murderous, and it was all the incentive Luffy needed to try and run. He knew there was nowhere to go, knew the wire at his throat would stop him, but the look in Bluejam's eyes screamed danger and his instinct told him he had to move.

In the end, it didn't do him any good. Bluejam's free hand shot out and snagged him by his ripped shirt, yanking him back despite his flailing and struggling. He tried screaming, tried insulting Bluejam and hurling any threat he could think of about how strong his brothers were, how sorry Bluejam would be, and that his grandpa would be angry too, but none of it made a difference. All his screaming earned him was a sharp cuff to his injured head, and then a dirty rag being tied over his mouth.

He reached up to remove the rag, but his hands were grabbed and yanked behind his back. Bluejam took the wire from the railing, yanking it hard enough to force Luffy's head back a little, then began winding it around his tiny wrists. It cut in viciously, but Bluejam tied it tighter, not wanting to chance that Luffy would stretch his way out of it. It was a rather sadistic position, since any movement of Luffy's hands resulted in the wire at his throat digging in and choking him, creating fresh and shallow cuts that stung.

He dropped Luffy on the deck, watching the boy struggle just to find a comfortable position to breathe in, when a cruel smirk touched his lips. He had plenty of supplies from the village, and that meant plenty of barrels too. Finding one to use was relatively easy. He didn't even have to reach very far to fill the barrel halfway with seawater, pleased to see that it didn't have any leaks in it.

"Did you know, Devil Fruit users don't just sink in the water because they can't swim," Bluejam seemed to be talking to Luffy, but he didn't even bother looking at him as he set the barrel down. "This should shut you up until I find someone who wants to buy you. We'll have to make our way to the Grand Line."

He reached down with one meaty hand and hauled Luffy up by the back of his neck. It only took a few moments for Luffy to realize his intention, struggling with his feet to stop himself from being stuffed into the barrel, but one foot slipped as his sandal broke, and the second his foot was submerged, all of his energy drained away. It was the same feeling he got whenever he had to take an impromptu dip in the river - a much more severe version of the way he felt when he had to take a bath. Despite how strong he wanted to appear, a muffled whimper of protest escaped around his gag, and he looked to Bluejam almost pleadingly.

Bluejam responded by shoving him the rest of the way into the barrel so that he sat in a scrunched position, water coming up to his neck. Pain began to register over the dull ache of having no energy, and it felt worse than the fire licking at his bare skin had in the Gray Terminal. It was a deeper burn, one that seeped into every single cut or scrape he'd gotten. Pain exploded instantly from the lacerations at his neck, hands, and wrists. His scream was muffled by the rag in his mouth, but the thrashing that came with it only caused him to choke, creating more cuts at the same time.

He barely heard Bluejam's laughter over the sound of the water splashing around him and his own agonized cries. As the lid to the barrel hovered over him, blocking out what little light had filtered in, Luffy managed to twist one last time to look up and catch a glimpse of Bluejam's face. The salty sting to his eyes had to be from the sea. There was no way he'd started crying now, because Ace wasn't here yet. He couldn't be crying.

Then the lid was closing, sealing shut and blocking out sounds along with light and trapping the seven year old in a confined, watery prison.

Ace, he choked back a dry sob, closing his eyes tightly and focusing on not crying rather than thinking about how much everything hurt or how scared he was. You're okay, right? Bluejam's wrong, you made it out with Dadan because you're my big brother and no one can beat you, right?

He clenched his fists tightly, willing himself not to feel how much the tiny cuts all over his fingers burned and stung under the assault of the seawater. Sabo, you're okay too, right? You miss us and you'll come home soon, right?

The water was sloshing around now, indicating the boat was rocking or his barrel was being moved. Makino, I'm sorry I let Bluejam hit you… I should have been able to protect you because you're my friend! Just like Shanks taught me, no one hurts my friends…!

The burn was slowly ebbing away into a dull ache that only flared back to life if he moved too much. Breathing was easier if he huddled in on himself but kept his head tilted back a little and didn't move. He just wanted to curl up and sleep.

I won't cry, he told himself again, biting down on the rag in his mouth. I won't cry, I won't cry, I won't! Ace, Sabo, you'll be so proud of me, won't you? I'm not… I'm not crying!

Despite another jostle of the barrel that made his entire body flash with pain again, Luffy started to drift off, eyelids drooping in the eerie darkness of his prison. He thought of his brothers, thinking of all the different ways they could show up to save him. Ace would yell at him when he started crying, but Sabo would probably tell him he did a good job and soothe him until his tears stopped. They'd both be proud, even if Ace probably wouldn't admit it to him, and even if Ace called him an idiot, he'd still give him the biggest share of meat when they ate.

More than anything else, more than all the meat in the world, Luffy just wanted to see his brothers again. It would mean he was safe, it would mean he could cry, it would mean he wouldn't have to be scared anymore, and most importantly of all…

It would mean they were safe.

...

No one spoke. There was a good chance no one even breathed in the silence that stretched out after Dogra's claim.

It was too much all at once, and it was some of the worst possible news that anyone could have delivered. That Dogra hadn't even seemed to realize Ace wasn't there but Dadan was could be considered a testament to how shaken the other bandit was.

"This can't be happening," Makino's whisper shattered the silence, a soft sob rising up in her throat as she covered her mouth with her hands. She was wearing a robe that obviously belonged to Dadan, and it was then that Dogra noticed not only Makino's presence, but her current state.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Dadan asked Dogra, forcing herself to sit up and look at him before he could inquire about Makino.

"I'm sure," Dogra wrung his hands together, tears gathering in his eyes again. "It was definitely Sabo, and that damn Tenryuubito…"

"Did you see Ace?" Dadan asked, cutting him off. She was the only one with completely dry eyes at the news about Sabo, but she couldn't let herself dwell on grief, not when she had two more kids who were still alive.

"Ace?" Dogra's surprised expression answers her question, but he still shakes his head. "No, wasn't he… isn't he with you?"

Dadan closed her eyes, then sighed loudly, looking very tired. "Luffy snuck out to look for Ace," she explained quietly. "That Bluejam guy made it out of the fire and found him. He used Luffy to get a boat from Windmill Village and took Luffy as a hostage." She opened her eyes to look at Dogra, and even if she kept her composure, it wasn't hard to see the pain in her expression. "Ace went to get Sabo so they could both go after Luffy. If you didn't see him, maybe he didn't see what happened."

"Luffy is…?!" Dogra stared up at her with wide eyes, a tremor racing through his body. "And you didn't stop Ace?!"

"No," Dadan shook her head, closing her eyes again.

Magra put a hand on Dogra's shoulder, shaking his head. He would explain later, when they weren't grieving the loss of all three boys. Ace, they knew was still alive, but to hear that such a thing had happened to Sabo, and not knowing if anyone would be able to save Luffy…

"Couple of you morons escort Makino back to the village," Dadan muttered, moving to lie back down. "Sooner or later someone'll get a hold of Garp. I need to rest."

No one argued - not even Makino - and soon the house was silent, with Magra and another sniffling bandit being the one to walk the inconsolable young woman back to her home.

...

Ace never returned.

Not that Dadan had expected him to. Whether or not he saw what happened to Sabo or if he simply couldn't find the blond boy, he wouldn't have come home without Luffy. That was the choice he'd made and he'd die before giving up on it. She didn't know if she considered it a blessing or a curse that the boy in the straw hat had managed to worm his way so deeply into Ace's wounded heart.

Every single one of the bandits had seen the change in Ace, even if none of them had bothered to comment on it. The boy who went into town to pick fights and lash out as a way to channel his hatred had started to vanish, replaced with an uncertain kid who covered his affection with displays of aggressive or abrasive behavior. He'd started to smile. He'd stopped carrying the weight of his father's name every waking moment and started acting more like a child.

Luffy had changed him for the better, but in doing so had given Ace something precious to lose. It was sheer agony for Dadan to consider the idea of Ace being forced to recover from that kind of loss. As cruel as it sounded, she believed he could overcome Sabo's death, but only if he was doing it for Luffy's sake. If he lost them both, after having allowed them into his heart, he would be broken beyond repair.

She looked down at the letter in front of her. She'd rested for most of the day after learning of Sabo's death, doing her best to recover from her injuries. She still hadn't healed, but she'd refused to just lie around like a log. The letter had come first thing in the morning, and no one had quite known how to react to it. They'd eventually given it to Dadan, and she'd stared at it for a long while before ordering the others to leave. No one had argued.

Not when the neat handwriting on the front of the letter was addressed "To my brothers on Mt. Colubo".

In the end, she couldn't bring herself to open the letter. Even if they were technically Sabo's last words, they weren't meant for her or any of the other bandits. It was a letter from a brother, to his brothers.

Dadan was by no means holding out for any miracles. Their best hope would inevitably be Garp tracking the pirate down and bringing the boys home, but there was no telling how long it would take to inform him of the problem, or even how close he was. Bluejam could easily kill Luffy before Garp even made it back to East Blue, and there were complications too numerous to even think about when it came to Ace setting out alone to find his brother.

Still, somewhere deep in her heart, Dadan prayed that Ace was able to find Luffy and get him away from Bluejam. Even if they didn't come home, as long as they were together and they were safe, that would be enough for her. Maybe one day, they'd make their way home, willingly or not, and she'd give them the letter.

Until the day one of her boys came home, however, the letter would remain sealed and tucked away somewhere safe.

She reached out to pick it up, her hand stilling inches from the paper when she saw the discolored patches on her bandages. Her other hand slowly came up to touch her cheek, feeling the dampness there and causing her to close her eyes. A deep breath helped calm her, but it didn't last long. With no one around to see her crumble, she could finally give herself a moment to grieve for Sabo's murder. She wouldn't grieve for Ace or Luffy, not when they still had a chance, but she would allow herself time to grieve for Sabo.

...

Ace cursed under his breath, swaying heavily to one side while he tried to steer. Despite his ambitions of setting out to sea, he'd never actually gotten any experience trying to navigate a boat. He'd always assumed that Sabo would have been his navigator, but now…

He shoved that thought aside immediately, biting down on any further curses. He didn't have time to think about anything but Luffy. Regardless of what that damn Tenryuubito had done, Luffy was still out there, and he needed Ace to pull it together and be strong. He needed Ace to focus and come save him, just like a big brother should.

What kind of fucking big brother am I if I can't even save… damn it! He clutched the wheel tighter, knuckles turning white as a wave broke against the side of the small fishing boat, sending a salty spray into his face that stung his eyes. The sensation had been welcome when he'd been daydreaming on the cliffs, but now it was just annoying.

He had no idea which way Bluejam had gone, if he'd stopped anywhere nearby, or even if he was going in the right direction, but it didn't matter. Escaping Dawn Island was the first step. Finding his crying baby brother was the next.

Because he knew Luffy had to be crying. He was supposed to be there to yell at him for crying and help shape him into a brave man, not struggling to steer a pilfered boat with no control and tears stinging his own eyes.

A sound from behind him made him tense, whirling around to glare absolute murder at the person coming his way. He swiped the back of his hand over his eyes as an afterthought to quickly hide any traces of tears, but the remnants of salt still clinging to his skin only worsened the stinging.

...

A/N: T_T I'm so mean to them. I love them all but I'm so mean to them! So, the next chapter will explain what happened with Ace at the very end of chapter 1, and as a random note, Dadan is probably my favorite One Piece mother next to Bellemere and Otohime.

Thank you all SOOOO much for the lovely reviews, the (holy crap again!) faves, and follows! Hope to see you next Friday!

~Mithril